It was in the early 70's and i had graduated from college and i was finally relieved and free of the burdensome required readings. I picked up one day an odd, rather curious book with a cartoonish bird's eye view of a hilly farmland repose. Little did i know, as innocent as it seemed, as innocent as Bilbo encounter with Gandalf and the dwarves was, that i would be forever and profoundly changed by a wizard by the name of Tolkien. I was swept out the door where Middle-earth became the center of my very being. And with Jackson and some folks (TORn-folks!) that happened into this life, that world became incredibly richer still:).

Favorite Tolkien character:

I love them all equally. Each one lends such a beauty to it all. I can revel in any one of them at any time. And it is not just the characters themselves. It is the one life they, themselves create and share. Nope, i'm not forgetting about you Bill:).